The IRS’ PTIN website for renewing and obtaining Preparer Tax Identification Numbers has been a challenge this year, to say the least.  Ever since mid December, the PTIN site has been briken and under maintenance more than it has been up.  New PTIN applicants have not been able to complete the process and pay for their PTIN ever since the site came back up from it’s week and a half maintenance period from late December through January 9th.  From our correspondence with the IRS the payment site is “supposed” to be fixed and functioning properly Monday, 1/16/2012.  We assume the traffic to the application and payment sight will be overwhelming due to the start of the season coming on Tuesday 1/17/2012, and the fact that e-filed returns will be rejected by the IRS if they do not contain a PTIN.  Our advice is to try the website as early as possible on Monday, in hope of beating the rush.  The PTIN website is accessible at: http://www.irs.gov/taxpros/article/0,,id=210909,00.html?portlet=101